Smokers{40 {0 ashtrays

ABSTRACT

A smokers&#39;&#39; ashtray of the centrifugal disc type, includes a bowl made in upper and lower parts which are telescopically movable relative to one another, and a centrifugal disc which is operated by the closing together of the two parts of the bowl telescopically. The upper part has an upper flanged portion that is centrally apertured and a helical screw vertically disposed therein. A system of levers and rollers engage the lower surface of the upper part such that the telescoping motion of the parts depresses the centrifugal disc below the flange to expose the aperture as the disc is rotated to cause debris thereon to be deposited within the tray. The disc is mounted on an overriding clutch so as to be able to spin relatively freely after the execution of the telescoping motion.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Wing G. Cheng Kowloon, Hong Kong, Great Britain [21] Appl. No. 864,341 [22] Filed Oct. 7, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee Meyer Manufacturing Company Limited Kowloon, Hong Kong, Great Britain [32] Priority Oct. 11, 1968 [33] Great Britain [31] 48371/68 [54] SMOKERS ASHTRAYS 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 131/242, 220/205 [51] Int. Cl A241 19/04 [50] Field of Search... 131/237, 240, 242; 220/205 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D.127,306 5/1941 Pearce. 131/240 UX 2,029,139 l/1936 Szabo 131/240 Primary Examiner Joseph S. Reich AttorneyFleit, Gipplc & Jacobson ABSTRACT: A smokers ashtray of the centrifugal disc type, includes a bowl made in upper and lower parts which are telescopically movable relative to one another, and a centrifugal disc which is operated by the closing together of the two parts of the bowl telescopically. The upper part has an upper flanged portion that is centrally apertured and a helical screw vertically disposed therein. A system of levers and rollers engage the lower surface of the upper part such that the telescoping motion of the parts depresses the centrifugal disc below the flange to expose the aperture as the disc is rotated to cause debris thereon to be deposited within the tray. The disc is mounted on an overriding clutch so as to be able to spin relatively freely after the execution of the telescoping motion.

PATENTEDBBT 5m: 3.610.255

SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG].

INVENTOR WING GEE CHENG g9 ATTORNEYS SMOKERS ASHTRAYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A known form of smokers ashtray comprises a bowl which is closed except for an aperture in the upper surface, this aperture normally being closed by a disc through the center of which a knob extends upwards. Ash and cigarette ends are deposited on the disc and subsequently removed to the interior of the bowl by pressing the knob, this causing the disc to be lowered and rapidly rotated, with the result than an annular gap opens between the edge of the disc and the upper surface of the bowl, and centrifugal forces cause the ash and cigarette ends to slide off the disc through this aperture into the interior of the bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide an ashtray of the centrifugal disc type which does not require a knob to operate the centrifugal disc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ashtray of the centrifugal disc type which is formed in two telescopically movable parts.

Such an ashtray is therefore normally operated by pressing the top of the bowl down towards the table or other surface on which the ashtray is standing. Ashtrays in accordance with the present invention do not require a knob to operate the centrifugal disc and hence take up less space, and can, when required, be stacked one upon another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A smokers astray in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the ashtray,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the ashtray,

FIG. 3 is ashtray enlarged perspective view of part of the ashtray,

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the operation of the ashtray,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of the ashtray, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the ashtray.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in FIG. 1, the general configuration of the ashtray is similar to that of known ashtrays of the centrifugal disc type, although ashtrays in accordance with the present invention do not have the usual knob projecting from the top for operation of the centrifugal disc. This means that ashtrays in accordance with the present invention take up less space, which is important for example during transportation. It also means that the ashtrays can when necessary be stacked one upon another.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 2 and 4, the ashtraycomprises a bowl 1 made in two relatively telescopically movable parts. One part comprises an outer shell 2 to the top of which is secured a top cap 3 and to the interior of which is secured an inner shell 25. The lower part of the inner shell 25 is shaped to form an annular well to receive cigarette ends and ash. The other part of the bowl 1 comprises a bottom shell 1 1.

An aperture in the top cap 3 is normally closed by a centrifugal disc 4 which is connected to a rotatable pin 5 through a ball-andratchet-type overrunning clutch of known form. The pin 5 is preferably made of metal and is secured to the ratchet wheel 7 of the clutch 6.

As seen in FIG. 3, the bottom end of the pin 5 is injection molded with a plastic bushing 8 having an integral rectangular key 9 which enables the pin 5 to be secured to a helical screw 10. The helical screw 10 engages in a threaded aperture in a disc 26 which is centrally mounted in the inner shell 25. The lead angle of the helical screw 10 is selected such that on downward movement of the helical screw 10 relative to the disc 26 in a manner to be described subsequently, the required rotation of the centrifugal disc 4 is obtained.

The bottom of the helical screw 10 is provided with two bevel discs 12 which engage the ends of four rocker levers I3. The discs 12' are held on the helical screw 10 by means of a spring washer 14 which engages a circular groove 15 in the end of the helical screw 10.

Referring also to FIG. 5, each lever I3 has a hinge 17 which is integrally formed from the wall of the bottom shell 11 by cutting small portions which are then bent to form brackets. At a suitable distance from the hinge 17 each lever 13 carries a roller 16 which rolls on the underside of the inner shell 25.

The disposition of the levers l3 and rollers 16, and the shape of the underside of the inner shell 25 is such that on pushing the top cap 3 downwards towards the bottom shell I l, the helical screw 10, and hence the centrifugal disc 4, moves downwards more rapidly than does the top cap 3.

The center bottom of the bottom shell 11 is shaped to receive the lower ends of a conical helical spring 18 which acts to urge the helical screw 10 upwards, so that the centrifugal disc 4 normally touches the inner edge of the aperture in the top cap 3 and so closes the bowl 1. To hold the bottom shell I] to the outer shell 2, the bottom end of the latter is provided with a beaded groove 19 into which an open-ring spring wire 24 expands, and is locked in position.

Referring also to FIG. 6, the upper surface of the top cap 3 is provided with rest or recesses 22 to receive lighted cigarettes and in addition three thin wires 21 in the general shape of a horizontally disposed equilateral triangle are stretched across the aperture in the top cap 3 above the centrifugal disc 4. When a relatively long-lighted cigarette is rested in a recess 22, its inner end rests on a wire 21, so avoiding contact with the surface of the centrifugal disc 4, which contact may result in the taste of the cigarette being impaired.

In use, the bowl 1 of the ashtray is normally closed by the centrifugal disc 4, because of the action of the spring 18. Cigarette ends and ash are deposited on top of the centrifugal disc 4 and can then be transferred to the interior of the bowl I by pressing the top of the top cap 3 downwards towards the table or other surface on which the ashtray is standing. This results in a telescopic movement of the outer shell 2 relative to the bottom shell I], which causes the inner end of the levers 13 to move downwards as illustrated in FIG. 4. This causes the helical screw 10 to move downwards more rapidly than the inner shell 25, which causes the centrifugal disc 4 to move downwards from the aperture in the top cap 3, so providing an annular gap through which the cigarette ends and ash may pass. At the same time the cooperation of the helical screw ill with the disc 26 causes the centrifugal disc 4 to be spun rapidly, this spinning continuing after the telescopic movement has ceased, due to overrunning of the clutch 6. The cigarette ends and ash are thus thrown off the centrifugal disc 4 and fall into the interior of the bowl 1. When the top cap 3 is released, the ashtray returns to the position shown in FIG. 2 under the action of the spring 18.

Various modifications can of course be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A smokers ashtray of the centrifugal disc type, including a bowl comprising an upper part having an apertured portion and a helical screw mounted thereon and a lower part which are telescopically movable relative to one another, a centrifugal disc which normally closes said apertured portion in said upper part and is mounted on said helical screw, a threaded disc secured to said upper part and adapted to cooperate with said screw, and means to cause the helical screw to move downwards relative to said threaded disc when said upper and lower parts are telescopically moved together, whereby the centrifugal disc is rotated, said screw moving means comprising a plurality of levers, one end of each lever being hinged to said lower part and the other end of each lever engaging the other end of said helical screw, each lever carrying a roller which rolls on an undersurface of said upper part.

3. An ashtray according to claim 1 including an overrunning clutch which is mounted on said helical screw and having said centrifugal disc secured thereto, whereby rotation of the centrifugal disc continues after telescopic movement together of said upper and lower parts has ceased.

2. An ashtray according to claim 1 wherein said lower part includes a spring which is compressed when said upper and lower parts are telescopically moved together and which on removal of a force urging said upper and lower parts together returns said upper and lower parts to their normal relative positions.

4. An ashtray according to claim 1 wherein each said lever 

1. A smokers'' ashtray of the centrifugal disc type, including a bowl comprising an upper part having an apertured portion and a helical screw mounted thereon and a lower part which are telescopically movable relative to one another, a centrifugal disc which normally closes said apertured portion in said upper part and is mounted on said helical screw, a threaded disc secured to said upper part and adapted to cooperate with said screw, and means to cause the helical screw to move downwards relative to said threaded disc when said upper and lower parts are telescopically moved together, whereby the centrifugal disc is rotated, said screw moving means comprising a plurality of levers, one end of each lever being hinged to said lower part and the other end of each lever engaging the other end of said helical screw, each lever carrying a roller which rolls on an undersurface of said upper part.
 2. An ashtray according to claim 1 wherein said lower part includes a spring which is compressed when said upper and lower parts are telescopically moved together and which on removal of a force urging said upper and lower parts together returns said upper and lower parts to their normal relative positions.
 3. An ashtray according to claim 1 including an overrunning clutch which is mounted on said helical screw and having said centrifugal disc secured thereto, whereby rotation of the centrifugal disc continues after telescopic movement together of said upper and lower parts has ceased.
 4. An ashtray according to claim 1 wherein each said lever engages the lower end of said helical screw by way of two discs secured on said helical screw.
 5. An astray according to claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said upper part is formed with recesses to receive a lighted cigarette.
 6. An ashtray according to claim 5 wherein a wire is stretched across said aperture adjacent each said recess, each wire being adapted to support the end of a lighted cigarette resting in said recess.
 7. An ashtray according to claim 6 having three said recesses and three said wires forming an equilateral triangle. 